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I have read a rumor in a couple of different places that Disney is looking at building a new Sky Way for transportation purposes linking CB, AoA, and POP with EPCOT and DHS. Based on the diagrams online, there would be a station shared by POP and AoA, that went to a station at CB. From there guest would be able to board a gondola that either went to Epcot, or DHS.

That sounds awesome but I'd be curious to hear the odds of it coming to fruition. It would certainly be cheaper than monorails! When I first saw the string I was thinking it was a return of the Sky Way to MK. That's what I'd love to see! It was so much fun but probably such an insurance liability.

They'd have to be enclosed, otherwise Florida weather would prevent usage many times a year. Speaking of which, how safe is it to ride in a gondola if a lightening storm is in progress (enclosed or not)?

Would this be faster than simply taking a bus to Epcot or HS, from POP or AoA?

Sounds like someone's pipe dream. Looking at the properties, this just doesn't seem feasible. A Pop, AoA, CB loop and a CB, EPCOT, DHS loop? With transfers and travel time, the buses would be quicker from Pop and AoA.

So my question is: Will it be a "free" perk like other Disney Transportation, or will it come with it's own admission fee? Sounds more like an "attraction" than realistic transportation, like Characters in Flight (balloon ride) at Disney Springs, (even if it does take you from point A to point B).

XXXXXXXX,(name withheld due to TOS) an unofficial Disney fan site and forum may have discovered permits for what might be a gondola that could transport guests from Epcot, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, and Disney’s Art of Animation.

The expansion of the monorail has for years been seen as too expensive, but speculation is that a gondola system might be a costly way to create another alternative transportation system. The Skyway, an attraction in the Magic Kingdom, was a similar gondola like system that closed on November 9th, 1994. It seems that the new speculated gondola system would be much larger, transport more guests, and include air conditioning.

It has been rumored for some time that Disney is adding a Disney Vacation Club property at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort. The addition of a gondola system will certainly help attract more guests to the effected hotels including Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort.

Gondolas transportation systems are becoming increasing popular in urban planning. New York City, Hong Kong, Singapore, among other large cities have their own gondola systems. Disney could now be following suit.

Nothing official from Disney has been announced on this speculated gondola transportation system.

....Reedy Creek Improvement District, the Disney-controlled government agency, submitted plans to the South Florida Water Management District this week for work associated with various improvements. The plans are vague, but they do show buildings – including one with a V shape – that are elevated 100 feet. The details are leading some to conclude the project could be paving the way for a gondola lift linking some of the theme parks and other areas.

Such systems have been built in other parts of the world. Experts say cable cars would shuttle tourists around in a cost-effective, fun way.

While I doubt it would ever happen, it's a logical theory. These three resorts are very close together, and are very close to Epcot and DHS. There is significant road and parking construction around DHS, and it's safe to say that Star War's growing presence there will make getting into DHS very challenging.

A cable car accomplishes the Monorail's objective of off-road transportation but is far more flexible in con$truction restraint$.

....Reedy Creek Improvement District, the Disney-controlled government agency, submitted plans to the South Florida Water Management District this week for work associated with various improvements. The plans are vague, but they do show buildings – including one with a V shape – that are elevated 100 feet. The details are leading some to conclude the project could be paving the way for a gondola lift linking some of the theme parks and other areas.

Such systems have been built in other parts of the world. Experts say cable cars would shuttle tourists around in a cost-effective, fun way.

....

As noted above, right now there is primarily conjecture based on several otherwise odd placed buildings with permits filed in seemingly related time spans.

The placement of the buildings in what could be a "network" is leading to the speculation of an elevated transportation system.

The buildings in question are placed:

Near Epcot's International Gateway

Near the Current Parking Lot for Disney's Boardwalk

Near the Current Parking Lot of Disney's Hollywood Studios

In An Existing Parking Lot Between Disney's Art of Animation and Disney's Pop Century Resorts

In a New Development Near Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort

Near the Current Parking Lot for Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort Aruba Section

The planned buildings are noted below with the Dark Blue Dots, the Dark Blue Dashed Line represents a theoretical "loop" style transportation line between Buildings, and the Light Blue Solid Line represents a conjectured "spur" style transportation line between Buildings:

The permit has a recording date 03/30/2017 and appears to require construction to begin with-in one year from that date.

The construction locations (approximated) and portions of the permit are below:

The permit filed from February (as noted below) does not discretely appear in this list, however; it is still strongly speculated to be related to this project based on the timing and resorts involved.

2/15/17

More potential movement on this rumoured/conjectured project with the filing of Application #: 170306-6, Permit#: 48-00714-P with the South Florida Water Management District:

Originally Posted by Application #: 170306-6, Permit#: 48-00714-P

Atkins is supporting the design of new facility improvements at the Art of Animation Resort. The project
includes the construction of a new overlook that will be located within the “Hourglass Lake” between this
resort and the Pop Century Resort. Access to the overlook will be from the pedestrian bridge spanning the
central portion of the lake. The proposed structure will be supported above the floodplain elevation of the lake
on a pile foundation system.

Please refer to the attached exhibit for the approximate size and location of the new facility. Associated
improvements will include utility and area development modifications to support the proposed construction,
including a new boat ramp to be located on the northern shoreline of the lake. The footprint of the proposed
facility is approximately 10,000sf, of which all 10,000sf falls over the existing lake. The boat ramp will
require approximately 2,000sf of new impervious area to provide lake access to the proposed facility. Docks
or piers are not proposed with this new boat ramp.

These improvements fall within Basin 300, which is part of the C-2 Canal basin within RCID. The C-2 basin
was shown to have 17.63 ac-ft of surplus water quality treatment volume in calculations submitted in support
of the SFWMD permit issued under App. No. 170117-29. The additional treatment volume required for Basin
300 as a result of these proposed improvements is 2.5” over the additional impervious area. This treatment
depth over the proposed impervious area is 0.06 ac-ft. This leaves a surplus of 17.57 ac-ft of water quality
treatment volume remaining within the C-2 basin.

The proposed finish floor elevation of the proposed facility is 101.00, which is about the 100-yr flood stage of
Hourglass Lake (96.55). Floodplain compensation is not provided with this application because the impact
due to the proposed piles is insubstantial.

This letter is seeking a Minor Modification to SFWMD Permit No. 48-00714-P in support of the proposed
facility construction. With the treatment for the project area being accounted for in the permitted treatment
system (Ponds 100, 200, 300 and 400), we feel that the above information shows that no impact to the
existing permitted system is anticipated with this project.

The "overlook" is being conjectured to be one of the elevated transportation system stations. The structure is conjectured to serve as both a new "scenic overlook" of the lake and the transportation station for both the Pop Century and Art of Animation resorts.

All I have to say is - I know there were for a fact plans at one time to link all the resorts via monorail... and this is a sad substitute to the highway in the sky. Disappointing - but at least it's not more Busses...

I hope, it is such a "Disney" thing, but I just don't know if we'll ever actually see it. It seems fraught with potential problems and issues. Is Disney just filing the permits "in case"? Or, is this an actual "maybe"?

I kind of like this idea. Currently, I can walk from CBR to Hollywood Studios in 20 minutes, that's faster than the bus and why I do it. Speculating only here, but moving as fast as the gondolas do here at our ski hill, it looks like a gondola from CBR to Hollywood studios would have you there in 4-5 minutes. Epcot in around 10-12 minutes. Hollywood Studios from AOA/POP may be 6-10 minutes.. worse case scenario 11-20 minutes depending on the line up when you get to CBR. It looks like there is only one major transfer station at CBR. Because gondolas are continuous motion they load and unload quickly and efficiently. As far as the weather is concerned, gondolas are enclosed and are built to withstand horrible, winter mountain conditions. I can't see there being a problem, I've been in them in some stormy conditions with a good wind blowing! (They also utilize lightening eliminators.) Much more pleasant than a chair lift. In addition gondolas usually have more than one engine to prevent you being stuck too long in the event of a breakdown.

I think it's a better idea than more buses. I wish they had actually maintained the monorail better all these years because it is always breaking down now. I think gondolas are probably more reliable.

I'm pretty sure these would NOT be continuous moving ones though. They are supposed to accommodate strollers and wheelchairs/ECVs so I imagine these would be the detachable kind that load while stationary and then hook onto the line when they are ready.